The Town of Lakeshore is sending a letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne, requesting the use of land near Highway 401 for commercial and industrial development.
Ward 1 Councillor Steven Wilder says too many "smokestacks" are being put up in "prime residential areas" in the town and residents aren't happy about it.
He feels Lakeshore is booming and the designated employment lands in the town won't be able to handle the growth.
"There's concerns over pollution, there's concerns over traffic, there's concerns over property values being damaged," says Wilder.
He feels the corridor along Hwy. 401 is the perfect spot for commercial businesses to set up.
"People want to be there, businesses want to be there," says Wilder. "I've spoken to a number of business owners and they all agree — they'd like to be down on [Hwy. 401] as well. I think it's an opportunity and it's a question of how we can realize that opportunity."
However, the town's administration says getting the added employment lands is a long shot.
Under the current planning agreement and population projections, the town should have enough room for industry for the next 20 years.
Director of Community and Development Services Steve Salmons advised council it would likely be expensive and ultimately unsuccessful in trying to secure new employment lands against the agreed Official Plan with the County of Essex and Province of Ontario.
"We're going to grow between Tecumseh and Belle River; that's where our residential is going to be. Our industrial is going to be focused and concentrated on Patillo Rd. and the Comber-Hwy. 401 interchange," says Salmons. "We kind of locked ourselves in. We locked ourselves in ten years ago."
Salmons says the $2.6-million government grant the town received on Monday is a direct off-shoot of the agreed Official Plan as the cash will help pay to extend the sanitary trunk line to service commercial and residential lands towards Manning Rd.
The letter sent to the premier will also go to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.